Sports News Articles Scores, Pictures, Videos. Defining Moments. Wiping sweat from my brow with a finger and flicking the moisture off, I sipped the last of chilled white wine, the glass dripping condensation onto my lap. Heat smothered me a hot, humid, oppressive heat that made breathing difficult. It reminded me why Id fled Florida and never returned. I hate humidity. Grass tickled the bare soles of my feet. It felt cool compared to the radiant late afternoon sun. Bright laughter regularly pierced the air. They seem happy enough, I observed to my sister, watching Sylvie and Amanda playing a game of dare with the lawn sprinkler in their swimsuits waterspouts arcing through the air, an aqua fan slowly waving back and forth, sun making the drops twinkle. A small rainbow appeared and disappeared with each cycle. Kids are resilient, Lauren answered. More wineSure. I held out the glass to her. She sat next to me on a cheap lawn chair, a small folding aluminum table between us. Its nice wine. What is itPouring the pale yellow wine, she said, Pinot Grigio. She emptied the last of the wine into her glass. A sip and I sighed with enjoyment cool, crisp, clean, with hint of lemon and melon. I really shouldnt be drinking in the sun. It always goes straight to my head. Watch Mold! Online Hitfix. So, how are you really I asked, studying Lauren. She smiled slightly, took a sip of wine, and said, Could be better, could be worse, her free hand, palm down, tipping back and forth. More towards the worse, I thought. Small stress lines formed at the outsides of her eyes. If youve ever worked retail, you know that people can be their worst selves when theyre shopping complaining, arguing. Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Emilia Jones, Kit Harinton, Carice van Houten. The film opens with an episode that is, on purpose, a little mystifying. Fanning, all. Her smile, one that had the ability to lift spirits, looked strained. Peter I asked. She shrugged, smiled, and sipped wine. We watched her daughters playing, the silence between us a bit odd. Five years since wed last seen each other and youd think wed have much to talk about. Eventually, with the last of the wine gone, Lauren asked if I wanted more, making to rise. Let me, I offered, grabbing the empty bottle. The kitchen was as hot and oppressive as outside no air conditioning, no fan, the air stagnant. I did my nosy thing opening cupboards, inspecting, and finally opened the fridge. A second bottle of wine was chilling in the door. When I returned to the yard and sat, twisting the bottle cap off, I asked, Tell me the truth. Whats going onBeing a snoop, Id noticed her cupboards were full of generic brands and sparsely stocked. Her fridge contained leftovers carefully stored in plastic containers. It wasnt what Id expected. Lauren used to be a foodie loving fresh ingredients and an accomplished cook. The kitchenfamily room was spotless, but furniture was worn and old and I didnt recognize any of it from years ago. Theres nothing going on, Ryan, she insisted. Its Peter, isnt itLauren sighed and nodded. Hes behind on alimony. How far behind I asked, anger arriving. Theyd divorced four years ago. Id never taken to him. Hed proven to be self centered, loud and brash, with an overinflated sense of self importance. Id never understood my sisters attraction to him. Lauren was silent, watching her daughters as she sipped her wine. LaurenHow far behind I asked again. Three years. Jesus Three years I asked, shocked. How are you survivingWe economize. The girls have learned not to ask for things. She turned to look at me. I work a couple of part time jobs. Wiping away sweat from my forehead, I felt hotter, anger contributing to my discomfort. Watch Moments Of Clarity Online Moments Of Clarity Full Movie Online' title='Watch Moments Of Clarity Online Moments Of Clarity Full Movie Online' />Can I. Dont, Ryan, Lauren interrupted. Were fine. Actually, I was going to offer to go have a chat with Peter. Set him straight. Id enjoy it. So can ILauren laughed. If you can find him, go ahead. Watch Moments Of Clarity Online Moments Of Clarity Full Movie Online' title='Watch Moments Of Clarity Online Moments Of Clarity Full Movie Online' />Now that the Emmy deadline rush has transformed March and April into TVs equivalent of yearend movie listings choked with Oscarbaiting prestige fare, fall. The Emoji Movie Is Perfect If You Enjoy Seeing the Disappointed Faces of Children. Time to take a break from anyone younger than 20. The courts cant find him. Mommy Look Amanda yelled, running and jumping through the sparkling fan of water waving back and forth, a cool wall pierced by a leaping girl. Looks like a lot of fun, Lauren said, smiling with pleasure. A sparkle of joy entered her shocking deep blue, sapphirine eyes. For just a moment I caught a glimpse of my sister as I remembered her, bright, happy go lucky, her amber hair a shade somewhere between dark blonde and red, and a ready smile. Now, at thirty two, shed cut her hair to shoulder length and pulled it back in a small ponytail. She wore no jewelry, no makeup, and dressed down jeans and a simple cotton shirt. She had never been anything more than a five foot three dynamo, but now her jeans hung off her, her arms very thin, the bones in her hands and wrists noticeably fragile. My sister either wasnt eating or she was worrying herself into ill health. My anger was now displaced by worry. Lets go out for dinner. My treat, I suggested. Ryan, you dont have to. I want to. Its been five years. Its time I spoiled my nieces, I insisted, cutting her off. Sylvie and Amanda were thrilled with the suggestion and, even though we were going out to a casual restaurant Jumpin Jims Roadside Tap Grill they dressed up. Amanda, the youngest, wore a frilly short purple skirt, matched with a purple Tee, small plastic wristbands festooning both wrists. Sylvie, as befitted a young girl, wore a pretty lemon yellow dress cinched at the waist, with white sandals, her frizzy, voluminous, and curly sandy blonde hair pulled back at the sides with pins. Her hair refused to behave in the humidity so she was constantly pushing back wayward strands, frowning in annoyance. Amanda had no such problems. Her hair had taken the red side of her mothers and was long and straight. Interestingly, her eyes were pale honey with a hint of yellow, her sister, Sylvie, azure blue, not as intense as her mothers. Dinner was a lot of fun. Lauren, aside from playing Gunnery Sergeant between the two, couldnt get a word in edgewise, so she sipped wine and smiled, looking relaxed. Amanda was the most vocal, bombarding me with questions, Uncle, how long are you staying and What do you do and Where do you live and Im in third grade now. Were you ever in third grade Its hardSylvie, trying to be mature, asked what I did, talked about her hobbies soccer and volleyball, and shyly asked me if I was married, what was my wife like, how long have you been married Is she pretty Do you have kidsLauren laughed and told her daughter, Dont ask too many personal questions. Your uncle doesnt talk about that stuff. Sylvie immediately turned to me and asked, Why not Are you embarrassed You shouldnt beOh You mean youre divorced, like MomEventually, when we returned home, Lauren chased the girls, herding them into the bathroom to wash, forcing them to change for bed, and finally, after theyd both come out to the yard to shyly kiss my cheek goodnight, Lauren joined me on the lawn with a last glass of white wine. Thanks, she said, sipping her drink. They really enjoyed themselves. No need to thank me. I had fun. Ive got a couple of great nieces. Youve done an incredible job of raising them. Lauren smiled softly with pride. They are great. The light of my life. After a comfortable couple of minutes of silence, she asked, Hows your photography goingI was honest. Its worn me down. Its hard to go into war torn regions and not feel for the victims. Some of the things Ive seen in Somalia and Iraq and Syria are heartbreaking. Taking a sip of wine, I swallowed and continued, It finally got to me. Its been too hard. Ive taken a couple of years off from the Washington Post to try to find balance again. That bad Lauren asked, looking at me. Worse. Thirteen years of chasing death and destruction, and constantly being on the move, caught up to me. Ive been suffering from depression. Most mornings I couldnt remember what country I was in when I woke up and, after a while, the horrors all looked the same, whether caused by suicide bombers or starvation or civil war, and that was even worse. You look frazzled at the seams, Lauren observed. So do you. Lauren laughed. I have my girls. What do you haveNothing, I answered. She became serious. Thats not good, Ryan.